News

Clash Magazine have decided to premiere the first of three videos featuring myself playing / talking about the forthcoming album for The Leaf Label: Isotach. Directed by Ray Kane, these videos were shot at my home in Airedale, where the music was recorded. Hopefully these will shed some light on the music from a different angle. Release dates to follow, soon.

My new album will be released on The Leaf Label this summer. Recorded at home in Airedale, it marks a return to my first musical love: the piano (and cello). It’s slow, intense, meditative. The ‘single’ from the album, ‘Candela (for Sascha Heeney)’, is indicative of the general mood of the album – and it’s FREE to download!

I’ll be back with more information, pre-orders and a release date in due course, so stay tuned… X

This year, Leeds College of Music have asked if I would curate six evenings of music at The White Swan, in Leeds. The musical focus of these evenings emphasises original and exploratory music; showcasing student bands from LCoM alongside players from the UK scene (and beyond). The first of these concerts will take place on NOVEMBER 15, and will feature myself, Ed Jones (saxophone), and Joost Hendrickx (drums); and ‘John Frisco‘, led by LCoM student, LARA JONES.

Do come along THIS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, have a few winter pints of local ale and craft beer at The White Swan, and support this new event. I couldn’t think of a better way to take enjoy the refuge from the cold weather on a Tuesday night…

The first track on the EP, Keighley, features in a film made by Michael England, whilst we were in preparation for our collaborative live show. It was an incredible experience working with Michael, and this is a really lovely piece of work.

‘SPATCHCOCK‘ nights were legendary: hosted by a community of extraordinarily creative people living in amongst the warehouses in Overbuy Road, London. Raucous, intense, powerful, FUN. As the evenings progressed, one could be guaranteed of becoming quite mashed-up, and continuing well into the following morning…

SPATCHCOCK had asked if I would play an old upright piano – one they were looking to dispose of. Not wishing to pay for its removal, they asked that, as part of the performance, would I mind progressively destroying it… Armed with tools from Rupert Lees‘s nearby workshop, I set about the task of a ‘demolition performance’. The video ends with an ‘encore’ performed off-camera, on another upright, elsewhere in the warehouse.

The debris from the demolition was recycled, and fashioned into functional or decorative items by Rupert Lees; and the strung, iron frame, is still in use today, at Ellis Gardiner‘s nearby studio.

The adventurous and creative spirit that fostered the SPATCHCOCK nights lives on in venues such as New River Studios, just across the way.

Back in 2015, NIGHTPORTS (AKA Adam Martin and Mark Slater), asked if I would be interested in working with them on a new recording project. So, I said YES – and we begun. The first recording session took place on a rainy day at home in Airedale, and the second, in my most favourite place in Leeds city centre: at BESBRODE PIANOS. I owe such a debt of gratitude to Melvin, Steve, Sophie, Trevor, and all the others who work there – they’ve been such good friends to me over the years I’ve lived in Leeds (TWENTY YEARS, this year!).

SO – I thought I’d share a few glimpses of the forthcoming project with you. And yes, you can expect an ALBUM RELEASE in 2017…

Back in June, I played a selection of pieces from moogmemory for Daylight Music at Union Chapel, London. Later on, in the evening, I also played a solo piano concert as part of the Transmission Concert Series, at St. Catherine’s Church, Telegraph Hill. It’s about forty minutes in length, and is not a bad representation of where I’m up to at the moment…

I’d forgotten all about the filming – and many thanks to Ed Bennett and Xenia Pestova for inviting me to play in this amazing space.

Bit of a last-minute plug for the second fundraising concert for the Brighton Alternative Jazz Festival, at The Verdict, Brighton, tomorrow (Saturday August 20), doors from 19:30. I’ll be playing a solo piano set, alongside saxophone & double bass duo, Knoel Scott & Jair-Rhom Parker Wells; and Brighton’s very own West Hill Blast Quartet. Festival director, Dan Spicer, has put together an incredible programme for next month’s festival SO, do come down tomorrow and hear a little hint of what’s to come – you will be made welcome, and your support will be very much appreciated…